[en] Miniaturization is currently limited by our ability to manipulate micrometer-sized objects. Insect adhesion is an advantageous bio-inspired solution to this problem, although it is not fully understood yet. Interference Reflection Microscopy images of the beetle Gastrophysa Viridula adhesive structures in contact with a smooth substrate were analyzed. The results were cross-linked with an analytical model of an elastic beam deflected by a liquid meniscus. By fitting the unknown model parameters to the experimental data, we obtained information about the elastic properties of the structures, the liquid volume in the bridge, and the resulting adhesion levels.
Disciplines :
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Gernay, Sophie-Marie ; Université de Liège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Microfluidique
Federle, Walter; University of Cambridge > Department of Zoology > Insect Biomechanics Workgroup
Lambert, Pierre; Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB > Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles > BEAMS-µTech-Biomech
Gilet, Tristan ; Université de Liège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Microfluidique
Language :
English
Title :
Elastocapillarity in Dock Beetle Adhesion
Publication date :
September 2016
Event name :
MicroMAST 2016 : 1st International Conference on Multiscale Applications of Surface Tension
Event organizer :
IAP 7/38 MicroMAST Université Libre de Bruxelles
Event place :
Bruxelles, Belgium
Event date :
5 to 8 September 2016
Audience :
International
Name of the research project :
IAP 7/38 MicroMAST funded by BELSPO (Belgian Science Office Policy)
Funders :
BELSPO - Belgian Science Policy Office FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. Read more
Save & Close
Accept all
Decline all
Show detailsHide details
Cookie declaration
About cookies
Strictly necessary
Performance
Strictly necessary cookies allow core website functionality such as user login and account management. The website cannot be used properly without strictly necessary cookies.
This cookie is used by Cookie-Script.com service to remember visitor cookie consent preferences. It is necessary for Cookie-Script.com cookie banner to work properly.
Performance cookies are used to see how visitors use the website, eg. analytics cookies. Those cookies cannot be used to directly identify a certain visitor.
Used to store the attribution information, the referrer initially used to visit the website
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. Websites use cookies to help users navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. Cookies that are required for the website to operate properly are allowed to be set without your permission. All other cookies need to be approved before they can be set in the browser.
You can change your consent to cookie usage at any time on our Privacy Policy page.